A Bengaluru resident successfully sued PVR Cinemas and INOX, securing ₹65,000 in damages for consuming his valuable time by showing prolonged advertisements before a film screening.
The Complaint
In 2023, Abhishek MR booked three tickets for the 4:05 PM show of Sam Bahadur. Expecting the film to conclude by 6:30 PM, he planned to resume work afterward. However, due to 25 minutes of ads and trailers, the movie began at 4:30 PM, disrupting his schedule and causing financial loss.
Court Ruling
Declaring that time holds monetary value, the consumer court ordered PVR and INOX to compensate:
💰 ₹50,000 for unfair trade practices
💡 ₹5,000 for mental distress
📝 ₹10,000 for legal expenses
Additionally, the court imposed a ₹1 lakh fine on the cinema chains for wasting consumer time.
PVR-INOX’s Response
The multiplex chains argued that they are legally required to play public service announcements (PSAs). However, the court clarified that PSAs should be limited to 10 minutes before a film starts or during intermission.
The court further mandated ₹1 lakh be deposited into the consumer welfare fund within 30 days.
Read Also: